New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-04
WHO SHOT GEORGE G. SMlTHi
THE YOUNG MANS PECULIAR STORY

WHAT IS KNOWN OF HIM AT HIS B0ARDiNG-fLAoh
Did HE HIRE A BODY GUARDt
pstoshot heard in Madison Square shortly aHet
1 a. m. yesterday and startled Policemen Meade ana
Mathison. Of Captain wiiamss squad who were stand
Ing together at broadway and Twenty-thirdst Botn
policemen in the direction OF the shot, ana on tho
walk which skirts the side OF the square, at pons
opposite Twenty y-fourth-st they found weidressea
young man who had been shot The bullet had enerea
the young mans right shoulder infctinga wound thSe
appeared to serious Half dozen park loungers naa
reached him In advance Of the officers ana they aSsS
him to a bench, on which he sat and groaned
"who shot You ." Meade inquired.
at don't know. He away" the young man sa'd
inclining his head toward Twenty -fourth-st
Mathison went to summon ambulance from tho Now
York Hospital and Meade tried to get more informaoh
Tho wounded man said he was George Copcit Smi'n
twentyone years old formerly resident OF washington
and lately living at No. All Clermontave, brooklyn
He had heen shot by stranger without cause, ne SAID
Meade had a suspicion that Smith had shot himseh ana
made search for pistol, but none wasfound he even
asked the young II he had shot himself ana smith
said
IAN know about this is that tall man met me here
stopped in front and shot me. Then he ran away
never him before and do not know that cou'"
identify him IL saw him again."
When asked how he to be In the square AZ such
late he replied that be walking down the ave
nue. the Grand Central Station Then he said nc hah
received anonymous letter recently telling MIN tha
he was to punished severely but he hal no means OF
tracing the letter. and he did not know why any one
should wish to hurt him. He had hired stout coored
man TO accompany him as n guard. The negro was with
him up to the time shooting but ran away imme
diately atterward, no replied.
Smith lost considerable blood before an ambulance
arrived with a surgeon. In the New-York Hospital MS
wound examined and pronounced serious but not
dangerous. and the patient went to sleep Policeman
Meade made ipuuiries about Madison square
afterward and found cabman VINO snld
that he had Smith accost woman IN the
square some time before the shooting IL was said also
that Smith had been seen drinking in the Hoffman
House in evening, but Smith did not appear TO be
hospital smith refused to talk shooting and
qucsted that reporters should be permitted 10 come
him. His request granted cheerfully Dy ,he
hospital officials. who did care TO inquire into bis
secrets Late in the day 1t said that smith was on
Inquiry no. ali cermontavc.. Brooklyn, where Mr. r.
Smith boarded, showed that went there TO board IN
October when he became student In Claghorns Bas,
ness College, In Courtst. Brooklyn Ino iact thas
there S wsro snS%n to Ss ft school, ana in that
way he went to the house He always behaved III q
catcs Mrs Clara Cakins. the landlady said that no
one had gone him at the hospital. lie had come
again saving that he would be at 30 far as
she knew his habits good and he did not Indulge
house was aware and the stories of his receiving
letters hiring body guard TO protect him were
"He never brought a bodyguard here said Mrs.
Calkns with a smile, land II he had one no must nave
left IL outside. ,
"Tho only person no ever spoke OF reeeiv- ,enn
ing letters from was his mother; who lived .
in Washington. policeman took tho news
word sent his relatives by Mrs Calkins or any ono
else at the bOuse -,
Mr. Claghorn principal OF the business college which
young smith attended said that he quiet and sdl-
Ia his habits. He was twenty years old ana sad tha
when he became twentyone be would inherit farm OF
700 acres In New-Jcrsey and would live oait
One OF the studenis OF the college formerly boarded
with smith at No All Ccrmontavc but he was married
"a short time and West